Did you NOT use "hub-centric" rings ?

 

So i was in California a few weeks ago and purchased a set of 17x8 Torque Thrust M wheels for my LT. I had them redrilled to 5x110 bolt pattern right there at the shop and couldn't wait to finally have them on my ride.

Now i'm back to Europe and asked a local tireshop to mount them. The bolt pattern fits, but they claim that the ECCENTRIC RINGS are missing. It seems they are essential, because currently the Torque Thrust will not align properly with the center of the wheel hub.

Does anyone know where i can get such eccentric rings for the Torque Thrusts, or at least the specifications and dimensions of the same, so that i can search locally? That would be a big help and much appreciated!

 

Short update: i just talked to the Californian wheelcenter where i had purchased my wheels. They said that hub centric rings are not required for these wheels, as they were steel inserted and the conic lugnuts will center the wheel automaticly.

However my local tireshop says that driving without hub centric rings is dangerous, as all the force from hitting potholes and other bumps in the road will directly hit the wheel bolts (instead of being partially absorbed by the wheel hub trough the centric rings). They claim that this is dangerous, especially at higher speeds where a hard bump could shear off the wheel bolts so that you lose the wheel.

I'm no technical expert, just a mere driver who loves his LT. So i got no clue how dangerous it really is to drive around without hub centric rings. The roads in our area are surely not the smoothest, so bumps ARE an issue. I wouldn't want to from losing a wheel or two at high speeds. But if my local tireshop is just being overcautious and there's no real risk of losing a wheel, i'll have them installed by tomorrow.

What do you guys think?

 

ROMEO ROCKS - me, I would not worry about it. However lets see what others say.

I run a set of aftermarket mag rims in the winter and they are not hub-centric, and I do not use HC rings on them. And after 4 years of winter driving, haven't had any problem at all. When I look back at the old steel wheels we all ran for years and years, they were not "hub-centric" and no one had problems then, so I kinda look at the hub centric rings as being a bit of a gimmic. When I did buy the winter mags they included some PLASTIC HC rings - and when I queried them about the rings I was told they just make it easier to mount the wheels rather than having to lift them up to match the bolt holes. The rings were relegated to the parts bin when I changed the wheels.

 

RR: I had a browse around the web, and there are some race regulations according to TireRack (tho' I could not find anything in the SCCA rules about it) stating that HC rings MUST be used for racing if the vehicle and original wheels were so designed:

Ie: http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/...sp?techid=110&

but most of the references refer to reducing vibration by ensuring that the wheels are properly centered.

ie: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/bro...wheelRings.jsp

So, yeah, I would not worry about it.

 

American cars have been built for well over 60 years without hub-centric alignment. Not only that, you don't even have to have conical lug nut seats to ensure centering - the original American Racing Torque Thrust D wheels used shouldered lugs and washers, and they centered just fine. As for loading, your shop is just being Euro-centric. Just because they are not used to it doesn't mean it doesn't work. Fuel Dragsters in the 1960's had 5 lug wheels with no hub centric ring, and they survived a couple thousand horsepower. Off road racing Broncos in the 1970's had no hub centric ring, and they survived 1000 miles of Baja off-road racing. Finally, I am runninhg Wheel Vintique Chrome smoothies on my HHR SS. No hub centric rings, just located by conical lug nuts. No problem at all.

 

SCCA is wacky that way, but only because they don't want to deal with having to think when it comes to "non-stock" on the stock classes. In the 1970's they had a rule that said the battery could not be in the passenger compartment. A friend (Toly Aratunoff) raced a Morgan, which had the battery mounted under the passenger seat from the factory. He was disqualified from the nationals because he didn't meet the rule about the battery being in the passenger compartment. He moved the battery to the trunk for safety, and the next year was disqualified after winning the nationals because they had a rule stating the battery could not be moved from the stock location. They might as well have had a rule stating Morgans couldn't be run because when they win they embarassed the Triumph and MG guys - that's what it really amounted to.

 

Ok guys i did it - the TTs are finally installed (but don't ask what trouble that was). Here are a few first impressions. Enjoy.









I absolutely love the look! Especially with those Goodyear Eagle F1 tires and their unique profile. There's no stick out at all, the 17x8s fit just fine - even with 225x50 rubbers and Eibach lowering. Bottom line: Wouldn't want any other wheels on my LT and can highly recommend them to anyone looking for that oldschool muscle look.

 

That looks HOT!

 

A few more pics and I see a future Featured HHR Winner